I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 21 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy McGinley — the need to increase the level of maintenance grant being paid to students attending third level colleges in Northern Ireland and Britain in view of the loss in value of the grant because of the unfavourable exchange rate; (2) Deputy McDowell — the apparent decision by the EU Commission to block Government proposals for new urban and rural renewal schemes; (3) Deputy Ferris — the need for a properly resourced follow-up programme for children who are departing from special residential schools to prevent them from returning to a dysfunctional environment; (4) Deputy Dukes — the reported threat by the EU Commission to the sanctioning of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority plan; the serious consequences of this threat to residential, social, infrastructural and commercial development of this key area, and the failure of the Government to avert this threat; (5) Deputy Sargent — the need for the Minister for Agriculture and Food to immediately revoke measure 5 of the rural environment protection scheme in order to prevent the further destruction of hedgerows by farmers and agricultural contractors; (6) Deputy Upton — the need for the Minister for Public Enterprise to ensure that public transportation in urban Ireland is further developed; (7) Deputy Gilmore — the policy of the Minister for Health and Children concerning drug treatment centres in view of the difficulties regarding the location of a satellite clinic at Loughlinstown, County Dublin; (8) Deputy Seán Ryan — the difficulties being experienced by the Government with the EU Commission regarding new urban renewal schemes and the need for designated status for Balbriggan in the context of any new schemes being approved, and (9) Deputy Howlin — the urgent need to establish a housing commission with a remit to develop new housing initiatives in the light of the current housing crisis facing many young couples and families.
The matters raised by Deputies Dukes, McDowell, Howlin and McGinley have been selected for discussion.